Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-19
THE HAYMARKET CONTROVERSY.
The Board OF Arbitration Complete
Their Report.

THE kAxMAAAE T CONTROVERSY
The BOARD OF Arbitration Complete
Their Report.
FARMERs-How IT Is PROPOSED TO PREVENT A
MONOPOLY OF THE BUsNRss-A SYSTEM OF IN
sPECT1oN RECOMMENDED II BETTER FACILITIES
NEEDED, ETC.
Messra- Chas. f. CONN, r. B. FarQuhar, and
Samuel W. Curriden the board OF arbitrator that
considered certain complaints Of farmers who sell
hay in the washington Market, have completed
their report and communicated the results OF
their investigation to the District Commissioners
In the following communication: Gin the matter
OF the complaints Of farmers relative to the sale OF
hay at the wholesale market grounds, now under
the control OF the Washington Market Co., referred
to the undersigned for investigation ana report by
the Montgomery County {Md.) Agricultural Society
ana the Washington Market Co., as board OF ar
bitratfon. the following Is submitted result OF
their Investigations.
A brief resume of the statements Of each person
appearing before the board is submitted herewith
and made part OF this report. Agreeably to adj
yertisements inserted 10 the papers OF Rockville
and Washington City, the board met at Rockville,
Md, on Friday, April 20 and at Center Market In
Washington on the following Tuesday, and heard
all those who appeared before them. While no
fraud or criminal act has been proved against any
person doing business In or about the grounds, or
against the weighmaster, Mr.. H. C. McCauley, suf-
ficient has been shown to satisfy the board that
there is an urgent necessity for many changes and
improvements in the methods and facilities for the
SAFE OF nay and other products by farmers on the
wholesale grounds.
THE PUBLIC SCALES.
As to the public scales, now under control OF Mr..
Il. c. McCauley, we recommend that as soon as
possible some method be adopted whereby the
weighmaster is placed under some responsible
authority, and subject to prompt removal for
nCp Nv fhrsN ft,n r0aai
be covered into the treasury Of the District with
an ftemtzed account OF gross receipts No accurate
data is now obtainabe by any person or authority
as to the amount received by the weighmaSter per
year from those scales; but assuming that the
statement OF Mr.. McCauley that of last years hay
over 5000 loads had been weighed by him, It can
be safe to estimate that II properly managed the
District would receive much more than under the
present arrangement.
time unduly Favored Mr.. E. b. La1erty, gentle
man to whom has been Issued by the District au-
chant, and who for years has made speciality or
trading in the hay brought to the wholesale
grounds by farmers. The weighmaster has fur
niSlled Mr.. Laf1erty with various facilities and
favOrs which this board regard as uncalled for
and improper. Among other things the board
ind on the back OF each of mis- weight certificates
a large advertisement OF Mr.. Lafferty as dealer
in hay, stating that his ONCE is the scales Ofca.
only one other person, and that horse dealer on
Louisiana avenue, has been similarly favored by
That Mr.. Laferty has been permitted by the
weighmaSter to use the ScaleSofce as his prtnci-
pal place of business may be solely due TO lack OF
force upon the part OF the weighmaster, and his
desire to retain the friendship OF Mr. Laferty. But
farmers, like other people, judge from appear
anceS and these have at times been such as to ex-
cite prejudice and provoke criticism. The board
believe unusual favors by the weighmaster to any
person to be improper, and they recommend that
Mr. McCauley be admonished by the proper au-
thorities against similar conduct in the future and
also that he be required TO keep his scales more
evenly balanced by the OF uniform shot instead
OF irregular pieces OF lead &c. as at present. The
accidental loss Of any OF the pieces used might
easily effect loss OF several hundred pounds in a
load. The scales should also be kept in better
condition. There were submitted number OF al
legged discrepancies between the weights by Mr..
public scales AS most Of those submitted hap
pened some years since 1t was found impractical
BILE to fully investigate this branch OF the inquiry.
MR. LAFFERTYs MONOPOLY.
| In reference to Mr.. E. B. Lanerty, the board
found that he has practical monopoly Of the sale
Of hay at the wholesale grounds, and that, in his
efforts to build up and retain this monopoly, he
has done much to excite the opposition to him that
| exists on the part OF large number OF farmers
ton is not entirely due, as MI LafTerty endeavor
to explain, to the comparatively low price at which
hay has sold the last year. but dates back ma many
| what farmers believe TO have been unfair inter.
ruprion by Mr. Lafrerty, whereby transactions were
lower prices for their loads For years it Is COM
planned that he has inspected and rated the
quality Of hay, fixed the price, and been the agent
OF the seller, and at the same time acted as the
agent OF the purchasers. With farmers, as rule,
he has rarely acted as If he were an agent, but
instead has acted AZ if he were the principal, but
| has never met the obligations Of principal His
dealings with farmers should be simply as the
agent Of buyers, and farmers should mold MIN re.
SpOnSibie for payment for their hay, and so save
themselves the loss resulting from the refusal Of
buyers to confirm and complete MI. Lanerty's
BY this mecod farmers qSa, would Dc
| the greater loss OF time That has resulted
to many when buyers have, without adj
ot tsns sources and 50 Become unable to re-
ceve it, compelling the farmer TO return sometimes
| long distances with heavy loads. Unless this
present mode OF doing business Is changed and Mr..
| tafferty is compelled TO deal in hay as regular
commission dealers do in other products causes OF
ferty or any other dealer in hay gives ticket TO
seller designating place where the hay is to be
delivered, and the price 20 be paid, such commits
sion dealer acting agent should be held respon-
| Sbe for the payment or the amount II the prtnci-
pal does not promptly ratlfy the contract and pay
There was no testimony presented which showed
| any disposition On the part OF the Washington
Market Company to allow any special fayors TO
this board gave a history OF that company's con-
nectton with the wholesale or hay market grounds,
and submitted to the board the agreement under
| which the company took charge Of the grounds,
! and erected buildings, and has up to this time
made and enforced regulations for the grounds.
| Mr.. Laf1erty has been OF advantage to farmers
| and buyers on many occasions, as has been shown
by the evidence, and it is not the desire OF this
board to interfere with his business or prevent his
presence at the hay market, or that OF any other
| commission merchant regularly licensed. But a
| nearly absolute control by any one man OF any
| one product the board believe 60 be injurious to
| farmers, and therefore competition SHOULD be en-
cOuraged.
A SYSTEM OF INSPECTION RECOMMENDED.
In order, however, that those bringing hay to
sell may have no further cause for complaint, we
recommend that the Washington Market CON-
pany be requested to employ a competent man to
be designated inspector at the wholesale grounds,
who Shall he responsible to that company, and
whose duty 1t shall be, when so requested by SELL
| to that market for sale, as follows:
No. l. timothy; No. Z, timothy; No 8, timothy;
| No. 1, mixed; No. 2, mixed; No. 8, mixed; No. 1,
clover; No. g clover; No. B. clover; No: !, straw;
No. g, straw; No. 3, straw This inspection TO be
taken as conclusive unless proven TO be otherwise
| by competent legal authority, and to be made
only when SO requested by the seller and for which
Zee OF fifteen cents load shall be paid. The in
spector shall give the seller a card showing the
grade and character OF the load and II any party
snail by watering otherwise doctOrtng IL, or by
loading it with stones other foreign substances,
q ohaSQ hal